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Thought this might amuse some of you!

(80 Posts)
Witzend Fri 24-Apr-26 11:23:45

Was just going through a load of stuff I kept from my mother (died 2015 aged 97) so should have done it long ago.

This is a page from her Woolcraft knitting book, Patons and Baldwins, price 1/6d, now falling to bits!

Who fancies knitting a lady’s vest (33-35 inch bust) and knickers?? To fit 35-37 inch hips?

Oreo Tue 28-Apr-26 17:06:01

Rosezeta

This how thick iam I seen a add for a lovely cardigan on the Web site it was only 7.18 I thought that's cheap so I got it when I looked at the email I only bought the bloody pattern to the cardigan lol lol

πŸ˜‚
Now you just need to find someone to knit it for you and buy the yarn.

shysal Tue 28-Apr-26 17:07:45

Basgetti

Following mastectomy, I have a knitted boob. From the excellent charity, Knitted Knockers!

Thanks for reminding me of this charity. I have ordered a lumpectomy one.

foxie48 Tue 28-Apr-26 17:49:59

I wore a liberty bodice as a small child, it kept me warm. Our house was freezing cold in the winter with only one room heated with an open fire which had to be lit each day or banked up with coal to keep it going 24/7 if it was really cold. We dressed to keep the cold out, always had a hot water bottle in the winter and wore long flannel nighties and warm socks in bed. If we were cold we'd put another layer of clothing on!

Whitewavemark2 Tue 28-Apr-26 18:14:54

Allira

Whitewavemark2

Baby’s body belts apparently helped the tummy button to form nicely and not stick out.

Oh, interesting!

Babies tummies were always bound for a time.

God I’m old!!

Basgetti Tue 28-Apr-26 21:31:16

All the very best, Shysal ❀️

Primrose53 Tue 28-Apr-26 21:49:52

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🀣

Witzend Tue 28-Apr-26 22:05:01

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🀣

I remember a granny when I was maybe 15 or 16, on seeing my skimpy little teeny knickers that had just come off the washing line and exclaiming, β€˜Where’s the warmth in those??’ πŸ˜‚

Basgetti Tue 28-Apr-26 22:08:20

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🀣

My husband tells me that he and his brothers had very fetching knitted pants and trunks, which beloved Aunty Betty made for them. (early 60s).
They were made to measure and fitted beautifully on dry land. Not so much after swimming 🀣

Allira Tue 28-Apr-26 22:31:21

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🀣

I'd make some for myself but can't see the top of the pattern, Primrose 😁

Grammaretto Wed 29-Apr-26 12:42:41

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🀣

I've also found an illustrated knitting book from the 1940s. You can not only knit a vest and pantie set in wool as soft as thistledown but a Dutch cap....
Not sure how effective that would be?

Bathing costumes too.

JackyB Wed 29-Apr-26 15:22:27

I have some old patterns similar to these. I also have some more modern ones - not for underwear, though -from the 70s and 80s, often in gaudy colours and very flamboyant.

My mother wrote in her memoirs that she and all the other girls from her office were evacuated in the war and there was.not much to do out in the sticks where they were so they practically bought out all the patterns,yarn, crochet books and knitting needles at the local haberdashery shops and passed the time crocheting and knitting. I suspect the patterns I have date from that era - lacy gloves, bonnets, cheval sets and tablecloths, and even a pair of sandals.

There was a lady on YouTube who made videos of herself interpreting old patterns - some even from the 19th. Century. She was American and the older patterns used the British names for the stitches which she understood well, although many Americans don't. Like recipes of bygone years, the patterns were often vague or unclear and usually without illustrations. In fact she made it more challenging by getting her son to copy them and remove any pictures or headings before she saw them I think she had health problems and hasn't posted for a while but I enjoyed following her thinking and she almost always managed to produce a recognisable piece of work.

Here is one of her videos for anyone who crochet and loves old patterns.

youtu.be/HVLwOft9omM?si=ZR4CRUnLrNkmh-t_

Allira Wed 29-Apr-26 15:25:13

You can not only knit a vest and pantie set in wool as soft as thistledown but a Dutch cap....
Not sure how effective that would be?

It was for your head, not elsewhere! 😁
I had several knitted bonnets like the children's version!

Oreo Wed 29-Apr-26 15:36:08

πŸ˜‚
That gave me a laugh

MT62 Wed 29-Apr-26 16:34:39

Samsara1

Oh yes I remember my knitted swimming costume- horrible green thing. I wonder if that's why I never learnt to swim and hate having to wear a swimming costume on holiday.

Ooh did it stretch to your knees whenever it got wet πŸ˜‚

Grammaretto Wed 29-Apr-26 17:17:16

I think the knitted garment was known as a sunsuit, not a swim suit πŸ˜ƒ

The Dutch cap pattern got a laugh at yarn group today at least among the older of us.
Shows my age.

Allira Thu 30-Apr-26 10:26:22

Grammaretto

I think the knitted garment was known as a sunsuit, not a swim suit πŸ˜ƒ

The Dutch cap pattern got a laugh at yarn group today at least among the older of us.
Shows my age.

Definitely a swimsuit.

I have a photo of me wearing one my mother knitted paddling at Bournemouth.
I shall not post it on here πŸ˜‚

Oreo Thu 30-Apr-26 10:28:38

I had to read that twice Allira πŸ˜„ I thought even paddling was knitted back then.

Oreo Thu 30-Apr-26 10:30:18

We def need pics of all the knitted swimsuits, maybe they were only intended for kids playing or paddling but not the full immersion thing.

Allira Thu 30-Apr-26 11:01:20

Oreo

I had to read that twice Allira πŸ˜„ I thought even paddling was knitted back then.

Oh dear, must read and edit before posting.

Elegran Thu 30-Apr-26 12:54:01

I've heard of Shetland women knitting as they went about their lives doing all the usual chores, but never someone knitting as they were paddling in Bournemouth. Don't drop the ball of wool!

I had a knitted sunsuit/romper garment when I was very small. I remember it being a bit warm for sunny days.

Do you remember shirred cotton swimsuits? They stretched to fit you as you grew. Someone I knew (in her mid-teens) made herself a lovely two-piece shirred swimsuit and felt very glamorous at the swimming pool. Then she went down the slide feet first into the water and emerged with the bikini top up at neck level. Her unfeeling brother said he was not surprised it didn't stay in place, as she didn't need a top, a couple of pennies with a dab of glue would do.

Oreo Thu 30-Apr-26 12:59:32

Haha Elegran you must have been so embarrassed πŸ™ˆ

Grammaretto Thu 30-Apr-26 14:31:20

I had a shirred swimsuit. Very fashionable in the 1950s. I was about 8 or 9.

We had a rather special child minder who made clothes for my DSis and me.
She could run up dresses and shorts on the sewing machine so fast. She would even make matching outfits for our dolls.

BrandyGran Thu 30-Apr-26 15:00:21

Any of you ever wear knitted cotton ankle socks which slipped under your heel and you had to keep yanking up! Yuk!

Elegran Thu 30-Apr-26 17:34:10

Oreo

Haha Elegran you must have been so embarrassed πŸ™ˆ

It wasn't me, thank goodness.

Witzend Thu 30-Apr-26 22:25:38

Elegran, I’ve seen a woman sitting on a beach in Cyprus knitting a sock on 4 needles! It was in mid October, but still hot. At the time I was frantically knitting a massive Advent Calendar for the Gdcs for Christmas, but it never occurred to me to do any on the beach. I confined my knitting to Dbro’s balcony, where he kept me supplied with coffee, G&Ts, etc.